Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood

Meet The Grinch, hug a Who, and play in real snow!

In the slide show above, you're viewing pictures of Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood, which is the name of this theme park's Christmas event. Would you like to attend Grinchmas this year? That's the purpose of this page---to help you find out!

When is Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood?

Universal Studio's Christmas celebration revolves around a Dr Seuss character called The Grinch!

When can you celebrate Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood? The details for Universal's Christmas event have are a little bit tricky. You cannot expect to show up at the park on just any day in December and find the Grinchmas attractions running.

The Grinchmas celebration opens Thanksgiving Day, 2013. All of the holiday activities that you'll see described on this page will take place the entire Thanksgiving Weekend. BUT...then for many weekdays in December, there will be NO holiday attractions at the theme park.

Finally, Grinchmas activities begin operating DAILY at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday, December 20, 2012, all the way through December 31st.

Here's the Grinchmas schedule for 2013:

Thursday, November 28: Universal Studios Hollywood will be OPEN on Thanksgiving Day! Grinchmas will kick off today, so get ready for seasonal fun! Opening time is 9 am & closing time is 7 pm

Friday, November 29: Grinchmas hours are 9 am to 8 pm.

Saturday, Nov 30: Long hours of 9 am to 9 pm in effect today.

Sunday, December 1: Grinchmas at Universal Hollywood is open; hours will be from 9 am until 6 pm.

Tuesday, December 31: Theme park open from 9 am until 9 pm. If you'd like to ring in the New Year, then you'll find a lively New Year's Eve scene on the Universal Studios City Walk (adjacent to the theme park.)

January 1, 2, 3, 4 (2014): Four more days have been added to this year's Grinchmas schedule...thanks to good attendance! The park opens at 9 am. Plan to arrive early to beat the crowds!

January 4th is the LAST day of the Grinchmas festivities. However, the "regular" Universal Hollywood attractions will remain open every day in January. This is a 365-day-a-year park.

Special note:

Universal Studios Hollywood WILL be open on all the major holidays in 2013, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...plus New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. However, there will NOT be a family New Year's Eve party within the theme park; Universal Studios will close at 9 pm on New Year's Eve.

But...here's some good news: the Universal Studio's CityWalk shopping, dining and entertainment complex stays open several hours later than the theme park...and you may join the crowd ringing in New Year 2014 at City Walk!

What attractions will you enjoy at Universal Studio's Christmas event?

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" comes to life at Universal Studios Hollywood!

Every year, Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood is very popular! Some days during Christmas vacation time are very crowded, with long waits to enjoy the Christmas version of the park's Back Lot Tram ride, and other theme park attractions. Grinchmas will surely prove to be very popular this, too! So, what attractions are drawing such a crowd?

1.) Special Grinch mini-musical on the real movie set of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" Guests taking the Back Lot Tram tour MOSTLY see the normal sights of Universal's back lot (where many movies and TV shows are filmed.) In addition, however, a special stop is made at the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" movie set. Guests may enjoy a live performance in which the Who's of Whoville sing, dance and mug for the crowd.

2.) Meet 'n Greets with the Grinch and "real" Who's! In a separate area, you and your family can actually meet and take pictures with some of the Who's...and even the Grinch, himself!

3. Live entertainment...including a band called "The Who's"...and a street show starring a singing Mrs. Claus and several Miss Claus "Santa Dolls."

4.) Beautiful decorations: Universal Studios Hollywood is decked out in its finery, including huge toy soldiers, wreaths, poinsettias, and "snow" on the buildings.

5.) But speaking of snow...the "Snow Play Field" has been cancelled this year. In past years, snowmen were built and snowballs were made by guests eager to enjoy a "white Christmas"...something Los Angeles NEVER has inside the heart of the city. Snow was trucked in from the mountain tops...and at intervals, more snow was blown in to refresh the melt-off (which occurred somewhat quickly in LA's near-perfect daytime winter temperatures!)

Hopefully, this year's omission of snow-playing is only temporary. It might resume in the future after current construction projects are completed.

6.) Tree lighting ceremony every evening at dusk!

7.) All of Universal Studio's regular rides, shows and attractions remain available during the Grinchmas activities. The Christmas holidays at Universal Hollywood are a special fun time to visit the theme park!